There are many decisions to make when choosing the details of your new kitchen or bathroom renovation. One that is often heavily debated is whether granite or quartz countertops are superior. If you find yourself in this situation, all you need to do is ask the advice of the experts. After all, this is what we do!
First, it’s essential to understand exactly what each material is.
Quartz is a mineral rock composed primarily of silica, a common component of sand and glass. It’s highly prevalent in the Earth’s crust. In its purest form, it is transparent; however, impurities can make it cloudy or add color to the rock. For example, amethyst is a quartz that contains impurities that give it its violet color. Quartz countertops are made of quartz with polymer resins mixed to help hold it together and fill in cracks.
On the other hand, granite is a very hard stone made up of a mix of quartz, mica, and feldspar minerals. Countertops are made of 100% granite that has been highly smoothed and polished.
Cost of Materials
When it comes to the price of granite versus quartz, granite is the more economical option. Granite countertops generally cost between $2,000 and $4,500, whereas quartz can cost closer to $7,500. This is partly because more work needs to go into preparing quartz and also because it is heavier than granite and thus requires professional installation.
Appearance of Granite vs. Quartz Countertops
Depending on your personal style and your kitchen or bathroom design, one of these stones may complement the room better than the other.
Most quartz countertops today are manufactured, meaning they are processed before being polished and sold. This means that specific designs can be relatively uniform–you know what to expect when you buy them, and it’s relatively easy to find the perfect piece and design to suit your needs. Granite, on the other hand, is not manufactured. It gets mined from a quarry, then is cut to size, polished, and sold. Each slab is unique and can have different coloration patterns depending on the quartz, mica, and feldspar ratios that comprise it. Though you’ll likely have to shop around a bit more to find suitable granite with the colors and design you want, you can be proud that there is no other countertop like yours in the world.
Maintaining Your Countertops
Granite is porous, meaning water and other liquids can seep in and stain it. Bacteria can also get into the pores and grow there. For this reason, you need to make sure your granite counters are properly sealed when you purchase them and plan to have them resealed about once a year. It’s best to wipe your granite counters down once a day with a mild cleaner to clean up spills and bacteria. On the plus side, granite is heat-resistant, which is great for when you need to set a hot pan or pot aside quickly.
Quartz countertops are lower maintenance than granite. Quartz is extremely hard and durable, so it only needs to be cleaned when you’ve made a mess on it. You don’t need to worry about sealing it or about it harboring bacteria and stains. It can be damaged by heat, though, so always use a pad under your hot dishes and place coasters down before fresh cups of coffee or microwaved dishes.
Both quartz and granite have their pros and cons, but you can’t go wrong with either when it comes to having stylish kitchen and bathroom counters.
West Coast Design Build Florida provide professional design and installation services in the Sarasota area. We specialize in kitchens, bathrooms and outdoor living areas/kitchens – call today for more information.
[…] Depending on what material you want for your countertops, the percentage of the remodel budget they take up varies widely. Marble, granite, and quartz will […]